The Effect – Play – Review – ArtsWest – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen Lucy Prebble's "The Effect" #play at ArtsWest. Fantastic futuristic sci-fi vibe from the scenic, lighting, sound, & movement design. Charismatic, disarming male lead portrayal from @Morgan Gwilym Tso. Closes next weekend! #Review: showsiveseen.com/13278 Photos: John McLellan Director: Mathew Wright Stage Mgr: Neen Williams-Teramachi, @Alyda Sorm #theatre #showsiveseen #antidepressant #pharma ♬ Tomorrow – Fly By Midnight

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Lucy Prebble’s The Effect play at ArtsWest. Fantastic futuristic sci-fi vibe from the scenic, lighting, sound, & movement design. Charismatic, disarming male lead portrayal from Morgan Gwilym Tso. Closes next weekend!

Recommendation:
See it.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Probably

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Two volunteers sign up for a clinical trial testing an experimental antidepressant. As the boundaries between science, emotion, and ethics blur, the relationships among the researchers and subjects grow increasingly complex. Will the trial yield a medical breakthrough or a personal breakdown?

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: In this sci-fi thriller by Lucy Prebble (HBO’s Succession), a clinical drug trial is thrown off-course when two young volunteers succumb to the gravitational pull of attraction – is it love or just a side effect? As sexy as it is funny, this riveting play will have you at the edge of your seat.

Type: Play

World Premiere: Yes

Several or Few Scenes: A couple

Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Static

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly, yes. But it was more dialogue than action.

Union Actors: 1

Total Actors: 4

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 100 minutes

Other Rave(s)

Vibe: The production exuded a distinctly futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic, with all design elements complementing in strong harmony. Parmida Ziaei’s scenic design evoked the sleek sterility of a modern museum with clean lines, minimalist forms, and a sense of clinical precision. Trevor Cushman’s lighting design beautifully enhanced the stage trim with pulsing neon reminiscent of a hip underground club. Outside of the neon, the lighting was vividly color-saturated and occasionally dramatically shifted. It echoed the lighting design in ArtsWest’s previous production Athena. The sound design (by Sandra Huezo-Menjivar and Conor Fortner) and sound composition (by Greg Fields) reinforced the technological atmosphere with robotic sound effects and synthetic announcements. Even the choreography by Alyza DelPan-Monley aligned seamlessly with the production’s futuristic tone as the test subject characters deliberately moved in an automated way between their scenes.
The Real You: Lucy Prebble’s script thoughtfully explored the philosophical question of true identity when a patient uses psychiatric medications. Connie (played by Anna Mulia) compared taking antidepressants to being drunk saying something like, “If you’re drunk and tell me, ‘I love you, you’re my best friend,’ I wouldn’t believe you.” If a chemical (like an antidepressant) alters your mood or thoughts, is what you say or feel still truly you?
Revelation and Twist: The final scenes unveiled an unexpected revelation, punctuated by an audacious twist that heightened the drama. Utterly reckless in a good way.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Script: The script presented an intriguing premise, but it moved at a pace that often left me restless. Maybe it’s because I work in the pharmacy field and the topic hits close to home. Or maybe it’s because theatre pieces from the UK tend to move at a slower pace compared to their USA counterparts. Additionally, the script could have more effectively illuminated the dynamic between the two scientists as well as their individual background/development.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price Range: $46

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out the discounts portion of their ticketing policies page.

Dates: 6/19/25 to 7/13/25

Seating: Assigned Seating

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Pictures: See production pictures below by John McLellan.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.